Extracts from Biographical Review of the Leading Citizens of Livingston and Wyoming Counties, New York
322–5
Homer Sackett, superintendent of water-works in Avon, N.Y., was born in the town of Mendon, Monroe County, in 1823. He has resided in Avon for more than forty years, and is one of the most widely known and highly respected citizens of this beautiful town, holding an important public office, the duties of which he most ably performs. His father, Colonel Orange Sackett, was a native of Warren, Conn.; and his grandfather, Homer Sackett, whose name he bears, was a life-long resident of that State, being a farmer by occupation from first to last.
Colonel Orange Sackett came to Monroe County, New York, about 1815, and for a number of years followed a variety of callings, such as farming, selling goods in general stores, and school teaching. He is still remembered as one of the most successful teachers in that region. Finally he opened a general merchandise store on his own account at Riga, Monroe County, and after carrying it on for fourteen years sold out, and removed to the town of York, Livingston County, where he bought a farm of six hundred acres, only twenty acres of which were cleared. This was in 1833, or eleven years after his marriage. The first work he had to do on his unimproved farm, which was very nearly a square mile in area, was to repair the old log house; and in this he and his family lived for many years. In 1822 Colonel Sackett was married to Amanda Minerva Sheldon, of the town of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass. They reared eight children, four boys and four girls; and at the present writing but one member of this large family has been removed by death. A portion of the original farm still remains in the possession of the Sackett family, it being owned by Samuel, the fifth child born to Colonel Orange and Amanda.
Their first-born was Homer, the subject of this sketch, who was ten years old when they removed to York. He received the rudiments of his education in the Monroe County district schools, and then attended an academy in Connecticut, and later the Lima Seminary. Like his grandfather, Homer Sackett has always been a farmer; and on April 4, 1853, he came to Avon, and rented one of the Wadsworth farms. After living there for about eighteen years, in 1871 he bought the farm he now occupies. He has erected new buildings, and has improved the property in various ways, it now being considered one of the most desirable estates in this section.
Very nearly half a century ago, in 1846, Homer Sackett married Margaret McKenzie, daughter of John D. and Catherine (McArthur) McKenzie. Mr. John D. McKenzie's father came from Scotland with his wife and seven children, settled in York, and had three children born to him after his arrival in this country. He took up a farm at York in 1804, and passed the rest of his days there, dying in 1826. Mrs. Sackett's parents moved to Canada, where her mother died. Her father married again, removed to Winnipeg, and there made his home until his death.
Homer Sackett has five children living—Orange, Edgar G., Charles H., Sarah A., and Cora M. Orange married Ella Briggs, resides in Iowa, and has one child—Irma Sackett. Edgar married Adelaide Brayton, and has two children—Edgar G. and Carrie. Charles married Hattie Robinson, and has two children—Homer and Margaret. Sarah married Charles F. Gwynne, and has two children—Cora M. Ella Gwynne; and Cora M. Sackett married Samuel P. Harman, and has four children—Orange S., Samuel P., Margharita D., and Phoebe A. Harman.
Mr. Homer Sackett was appointed inspector of the Avon water-works when they were put in, in 1888, and now holds the position of superintendent. He served as Supervisor of the town in 1871, has been Assessor for fifteen years, and has discharged his duties in such a manner as to reflect credit on himself and the town he represents. He cast his first Presidential vote in 1844, for Henry Clay, but has been a Republican since the formation of that party.
A speaking likeness of Mr. Sackett will be found among the portraits of men of mark in Livingston and Wyoming Counties that illustrate this volume.
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Orange Sackett, Postmaster of Avon, N.Y., has represented this place most ably, not only in the capacity of Village Trustee and in other civil offices, but also on the field of battle; for he saw three years of service during the Rebellion, service so active that less than half of the company in which he was a commissioned officer survived the war. He was born in the same county, Livingston, in the town of New York, July 11, 1837. He comes of New England ancestry, his grandfather, Homer Sackett, having been a native and life-long resident of Connecticut, in which State he followed the occupation of farmer.
Colonel Orange Sackett, the father of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Connecticut, and for a number of years he taught school there; but he came to New York State at a comparatively early age, and for some time settled in Monroe County. He was an active, enterprising, and industrious man, and engaged in different occupations, carrying on a general store and a pottery for a considerable period, until he finally removed to York, and began the improvement of a six-hundred-acre farm which he had bought there. He had no light task before him, as but twenty of the six hundred acres were cleared; and he had to build a log house to live in. But hard work evidently agreed with him, for he lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1877, at the age of eighty-one, just forty-four years after he had begun to improve the farm. He was married in 1822 to Amanda Minerva Sheldon, of Sheffield, Berkshire County, Mass.; and they had eight children, four of each sex, their names being as follows—Homer, James, Sarah, Frances, Samuel, Cornelia, Orange, and Minerva.
Orange was the youngest son. He was educated at Lima and Canandaigua, and did farm work until he attained his majority, when he removed to Avon, and became identified with the butcher's and grocer's business. But a much more important undertaking was soon to occupy his energies, the task of helping to preserve the Union; for in August 1862, he enlisted for three years in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth New York Volunteer Infantry. He held a commission as First Lieutenant at the time of enlistment, but did not hold it long; for in six months he was promoted to the rank of Captain. The first battle in which he participated was Chancellorsville. This was followed by engagements at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Wohachie, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Knoxville, Atlanta, Savannah, Bentonville, and other points. Lieutenant Sackett went out with one hundred men; Captain Sackett returned with but forty-four, eleven being lost at Gettysburg alone. He was mustered out in June, 1865, and, on returning to Avon, re-entered the line of business in which he had been engaged before he went to the front. After a few years he bought a hotel at Avon Springs, and carried it on for three years, when he sold out and removed to Youngstown, Ohio. He there also carried on a hotel for three years, at the end of which time he returned to Avon, where he has since remained. Farming has been his chief business; but he has also engaged in the improvement and handling of real estate, in the fire insurance business, and in the construction of cement sidewalks. Captain Sackett has served as Village Trustee and Clerk, has held the position of School Trustee, and was appointed Postmaster of Avon, January, 1892. He is a charter member of the Avon Hook and Ladder Company, and has been Chief of the Fire Department. He is connected with the Free Masons, and is a prominent member of the Grand Army.
Orange Sackett was married in 1867 to Cornelia U. Van Zandt, daughter of Jesse Van Zandt, who at the present writing is one of the oldest men in the county, he being ninety-four years of age. His parents were Garret and Hannah (Doble) Van Zandt, who came from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, at an early period, and were among the pioneer settlers in this section of New York State. Two sons have resulted from this union—William V., who is now in the office of the railroad superintendent at Rochester; and John S., who officiates as Assistant Postmaster at Avon. The mother was removed by death in January, 1893.
Now in the prime of lfe, and holding responsible and important positions, Captain Orange Sackett is a prominent and most useful member of the community in which he has liived so long. He has had a busy and a varied career, has worked hard and diligently to advance the best interests of the town, has proved his devotion to his country as a whole as well as to that section of it in which he lives, and is an honored citizen, who well deserves the popularity he enjoys.
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Born in 1827, Daniel Lacy [son of Ephraim Lacy and Mary Dickinson] was thirty-eight years old in 1865, when he came to Avon, where he has resided ever since. In October, 1850, he married Frances Sackett, daughter of Colonel Orange Sackett and Amanda (Sheldon) Sackett. They have had five children—Harriet H., Samuel S., John J., Frances V. Z., and Harry D. Lacy. Harriet H. married George W. Carman, of Marine City, Mich.; and they have five children—Ruth, Frances L., John L., Henry M. Stanley, Florence. Samuel S. married Lillian Stone, of Lima; and they live in Rochester. John J. married Emma E. Wallace, of Cattaraugus. Frances and Harry D. are at home.
During his long residence in Avon Mr. Lacy has found time to devote to public service, and has held various reponsible public offices. He was Highway Commissioner at the building of the big bridge at Spencerport in 1877, has been Assessor five years in Caledonia and three years in the town of Avon. He was School Trustee at the time of the organization of the union free school, and held that position for eighteen years. Daniel Lacy cast his first Presidential vote in 1848 for Zachary Taylor, and has been a member of the Republican party from its formation. He is as consistent in his friendships as he is in his political views, and is a "good neighbor" as well as a public-spirited citizen.
Source:
Biographical Review of the Leading Citizens of Livingston and Wyoming Counties, New York, Biographical Review Publishing Company, Boston (1895)